Do some people take competitions too seriously?

**Pecheur** · 04-05-2004, 11:24 PM

I was reading this other tread:

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14491

Where some guy wanted a service judge, in a social B grade tournament? WTF?

That got me thinking, it seems that quite often older guys, playing in lower grades take competitions really, really seriously. I remember Sydney Open, a few years ago (I wasn't playing, just socialising) and two older guys (40ish)near us were like: "let's just kick these kids off, we need to warm up" and they proceeded to harass these kids until they got off the court. As far as I could tell, neither group played for at least another 30 mins and weren't particularly good.

Then a friend ask me to umpire a match, which I thought was a bit rude since I wasn't even playing, and she explained to me that the guys on the court were giving the youngish (19?) girl who was umpiring grief. When I looked over they were ranting and disputing a line call. So feeling nice, and the person I was talking to had to play, I went over to umpire, picked up the scoreboard, C MENS DOUBLES? Why were they sooo worked up over this?

Why is it that older guys take it so seriously?

PS I have this really sneaking suspicion that I've written this before.

**Pete LSD** · 04-06-2004, 01:20 AM

This is slightly off topic.

Our club (VRC) has a couple of member(s) who take the recreational play so seriously that the slightly mistake from their partners would result in an up-front scorning. These folks come in young adult and seniors. I just don't know what is on their mind. Strangely, they don't participate in tournaments

**libra** · 04-06-2004, 01:34 AM

I personally think that it's fine being as competitive as you like, it is after all a tournament. Don't think it's fair to say that just because someone isn't "good" (B-grade or C-grade or D-grade) they can't be as competitive as A-grade players.

If you had said that these people asked for line judges and service judges during a social club game that would be another matter but seeing that it's a competition I'd say they are well within sportsman-like behavior.

Oh, in case anyone is wondering I'm not one of those 'older guys' Pecheur is talking about... or at least not yet (hopefully not for a long time to come)

**wickeddrop** · 04-06-2004, 01:56 AM

It doesnt have anything to do with the grade of play. It is suppose to be a friendly tournament with everyone getting to have some fun while hopefully making new friends, in my opinion. What happened to my partner and I in my opinion was definitely poor sportsmanship. Our opponents only started bitching after they were losing and it wasnt b/c our serves were winning the points right away.

Im a fierce competitor as well and I hate losing, I just won't go to any length to do it like I think they did. And the guys that we were playing were much younger than me, probably in high school.

**wood_22_chuck** · 04-06-2004, 11:22 AM

ahhh ... this reminds me of a friendly open tournament I participated over the weekend. Players were paired randomly in an initial round, and accumulate points for ranking in the knock-out round.

So I had this player/partner that was, hmmmm, solid intermediate, I would say, that has a weakness in receiving smashes. He was "coaching" me not to lift, and if so, lift to the backhand side only.

After receiving a few smashes (and failing to return them), he was getting worked up and apparently starting to get angrier and angrier. He stared me down a few times, which culminated in him pickup up the shuttle, walking back to the rear, and power-drove the shuttle, slamming it in the back wall.

My reply? I served into the net, hit the next service return out (opponents were at 14), then shook hand with the opponents.

A friendly open tournament, hmmmm.

-dave

**cappy75** · 04-06-2004, 02:21 PM

Heh! This is mild comparing to a certain player from Cameron

. You should thank your luck stars that she's not your partner on that day

! I think I have played against her once and thank goodness she's in a good mood that day. Never did play with her after hearing all the horror stories and seeing racquets flying all over the place. Heck! I even got a guy who stuck with me through one whole session just so he could avoid playing with her.

Originally Posted by wood_22_chuck

ahhh ... this reminds me of a friendly open tournament I participated over the weekend. Players were paired randomly in an initial round, and accumulate points for ranking in the knock-out round.

So I had this player/partner that was, hmmmm, solid intermediate, I would say, that has a weakness in receiving smashes. He was "coaching" me not to lift, and if so, lift to the backhand side only.

After receiving a few smashes (and failing to return them), he was getting worked up and apparently starting to get angrier and angrier. He stared me down a few times, which culminated in him pickup up the shuttle, walking back to the rear, and power-drove the shuttle, slamming it in the back wall.

My reply? I served into the net, hit the next service return out (opponents were at 14), then shook hand with the opponents.

A friendly open tournament, hmmmm.

-dave

**Nanashi** · 04-06-2004, 03:44 PM

i've never walked out on a partner during competition (usually because i partner people i know and rarely request) but i have walked out on a partner during social games... only about once or twice though.... simply because they were complete arses.... i just shook hands with the opponents and walked off... no need to even serve into the net and mess up on purpose....

**LazyBuddy** · 04-07-2004, 12:00 PM

I agree most of the cases listed above are "lack of sportsmanship". Being competitive is a good thing, as it will "push" us to improve, but over-concern about the winning vs losing record is a bad bad sign of "miss the point".

To me, asking for line judge in social tourny, concern about calls even in C or D or even E lvl playing is nothing wrong. Actually, in a lot of low lvl tournies, many participants don't really know the rulez very well (lines, serves to be the most). If there's a line judge, etc, we can solve a lot of problems fairly easily.

Like I said, competitiveness is good. Without it, we will be lack of motivation to train and to fight. Just make sure, being good does not mean "already the best", losing a game does not mean "suck". Most important, enjoy the sports, rather than kill each other on/off court.

**wwcbro** · 04-07-2004, 01:26 PM

Hey Wood22Chuck... How come I miss that match? I enjoyed watching these kind of display of poor sportsmanship! Too bad I missed it. I would love to see your partner's face when you "deliberately" serve into the net and then go on to "bungle" your return!!

Good thing he was partnering you....if it has been me. There will be total WAR!!!....just kidding.

**wood_22_chuck** · 04-07-2004, 02:25 PM

har-dee-har-har ... enjoyable in the re-telling, actually experiencing it is altogether different

-dave

**SmashingBird** · 04-07-2004, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by wood_22_chuck

har-dee-har-har ... enjoyable in the re-telling, actually experiencing it is altogether different

-dave

Dave, was he the guy I partnered in the knock out round?..hahah..
I only saw the end of your match where u walked over to the other side of the court to shake hands with your opponent while the bird was still in play and in the air, hahahaha.

**wood_22_chuck** · 04-07-2004, 04:06 PM

har-dee-har-har ...

Oh wait, I already posted this

Oh yeah, I let the bird sail, instead of hitting it out. 15-7.

-dave

**cooler** · 04-07-2004, 04:18 PM

yah, i know one player in one club that he said he couldn't sleep if he lost more games then won that day. It is recreational play too.

**Dill** · 04-07-2004, 04:49 PM

Yup I think we all know them, there are players that not only take competitions too seriously but also normal club nights.

I was at a club on Sunday where the guy was not as fit as he might have been and stood very far back to receive service in doubles - about a couple of feet from the rear service line. So after a while of normal short services I served right onto the back line with rather slow flicks to the backhand and he missed every one or hit them so poorly they went straight out of the side of the court.

When he missed them he started tapping his racket on the floor and then hitting it with quite a lot of force.

What's all that about?

**Brave_Turtle** · 04-07-2004, 06:50 PM

Well, I don' find anythign wrong about people takign the game too seriously as long as they are not arrogant or violent.

**Winex West Can** · 04-07-2004, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Brave_Turtle

Well, I don' find anythign wrong about people takign the game too seriously as long as they are not arrogant or violent.

I think that's the point, isn't it? Most folks who take the game too seriously at the club level tends to start telling you what to do with 'real' insight like "Do not hit the shuttle into the net", "Do not hit out of the court", etc.

Duh! That's why I haven't managed to advance in my play. I kept hitting the stupid shuttle out and into the net.